By Nadia Rivas
Following the death of power cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, a surge of violence has occurred across various regions in Mexico, as members of the New Generation Jalisco have been retaliating against the government and other rival gangs. The unsteadiness of the violence has left Mexico in a vulnerable state, demonstrating the tumultuous relationship between the Cartel and the Mexican Government. Mexican forces, along with aid from the U.S., killed El Mencho during a secret operation in the western part of Jalisco ( Talapapa). The operation was quite significant, considering it was one of the largest actions authorities have taken against the cartel in a long time. Officials have described it as a huge step weakening one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the country. On the other hand, the aftermath has consisted of pure retaliation. Just a couple of hours after the government announced his death, various cartel gangs began destruction across various places. Members of the cartel: blocked traffic, burnt down cars, attacked agents, and carried out shootings in multiple places across Mexico. In response to these attacks, many business owners closed their stores, schools had to close, and residents were told to remain inside. Authorities believe that they are creating destruction to demonstrate their power and intimidate the authorities. As a result of their havoc, civilians were left dead and injured. “Who will be the next lead?”has left experts concerned. Without a leader controlling the operations, many gang organizations will begin to compete for that position. The CJNG has experienced a recent surge in popularity. Over the past years they have been involved in trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. They have also dabbled in other illegal activities like kidnapping, extortion, and theft. When cartel leaders are removed, the organizations often break into smaller groups. With that being said, they may begin to fight one another or other cartel groups to gain imminent power, creating even more destruction. Even though there has been an increase in special forces, residents are concerned about what will happen next. They’re worried about the various groups who will want to fill the position of power, which will evidently lead to greater amounts of violence. Moreover, the Mexican Government has classified this as a big step forward when dealing with gang organizations, but that does not automatically mean peace. Rarely does removing a cartel leader do nothing; it actually creates more problems, mainly for citizens, because they are the ones who deal with the repercussions.